Lighten Up! – 1 John 1:7

7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son cleanses us from all sin.

– 1 John 1:7

Lighten Up!

I think we have all heard the expression that we are to be a "light" in this dark world. That we are to let our "lights" shine before men, etc., etc.  While that is so true and the world will be a better place when we all decide to "light" things up, we have to consider what "light" we are talking about.

The scripture tells us that if we walk in the light – as He is in the light . . . then all the other good stuff happens.  So what does that mean?  Well, since God IS light and the scripture tells us that He is also IN the light, then the purity of His light is, was, and always will be un-compromised.  There is no shadow. There is no darkness.  There are no hidden nooks and crannies (I'm not really sure what a "cranny" is but rest assured, God doesn't have any).  He is light within light within light. Turned inside out, He is still light – upside down, 360º, no matter what angle you choose to look, He is out there and available for ALL to see . . L-I-G-H-T.

So . . . how then, can we, with all our nooks, crannies, shadows, faults, secrets, evil and lustful desires, obsessions, anger, bitterness, envy, jealousy, criticism, hatred, habits, addictions, self-loathing, and on-and-on-and-on, be light . . . in its most meager of terms?  I mean, there is now way right?  I don't know about you, but I am so unworthy to be called "light," and on my own, there is no way I can even begin to walk in it, let alone even begin to understand what it is to walk as HE (God) is!  So how then do we do it? How do we fulfill this part of scripture . . . this Promise, in our lives?

The key phrase is . . . and the Blood of Jesus!

The blood that covers us in light, allows us to walk in the light, just as He (God) is Light, is Love, is Peace, is Joy, is Hope, is Forgiveness, is Victory, is Understanding, is Purity.  When we are covered in the blood, the very life source of Jesus, poured out for each one of us, just so we could walk in His light, we begin to see others before ourselves.  We begin to really care for one another, and love one another, and the self-centered, prideful ways that once owned us is chased away like the utter darkness that it is.  When the "light" is switched on, and we walk (live our lives) like we know what that means, THEN we can have true fellowship with one another, AND that same blood of Jesus, keeps us clean from the sin that once ruled over us.

Lets recognize His light by being light today.  Smile at someone; help someone; let someone else be first; give generously to someone; let someone know they are loved today; BE light today. Show the world that the Light of God is pure - that His Love is real, that His Joy can be for them too.  Walk in the light as He is light today and see what it can do to brighten up the world around you.  No matter what it is that you have to go through today – even if the world looks dark and gloomy . . . choose to be the light.  I guarantee that not only will you make a difference,  you will notice a difference in your own life, no matter what it is you are facing.

Prayer

Father, Thank You for reminding me of the purity of Your light. Show me how to be exposed today so that others can see Your light in and through me.  Make me a beacon of Your Love, and Peace, and Joy, and Forgiveness today.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

It's Not An Option – Matthew 6:14-15

14 "If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. 

15  But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.
– Matthew 6:14-15

It's Not An Option

As Christians (you know . . . those of us who have been forgiven), forgiveness is not an option.  In fact, failure to forgive is a direct contradiction to Jesus teachings – in other words, it is sin.  That's right – I said it - unforgiveness is sin.  Hits a little too close to home maybe?  Hmmm.  Me too!

Sometimes, it seems that the hardest people to forgive are our friends (or at least they used to be our friends), or our relatives.  I guess it's because we know more about them than anyone else  . . . and maybe, because of that relationship, we assume there will always be time to patch things up "later."    

You know that age-old saying of "Familiarity breeds contempt?"  Well that is front and center of a lot, if not most, of our hurt feelings.  It's those hurt feelings that are hardest to let go of, and (here's one you might find hard to swallow), I believe that hurt feelings are a result of pride.  Yes, our pride!  Our pride has been bruised and we take offense. 

"They" did such-and-such to "Me!"  

"You" caused this to happen - to "Me!"  

"He" or "She" said something to "You-know-who," and it just makes "Me" so mad . . . so I'm going to be mad at "Them!"   

On-and-on it goes, and it's usually that self-centered attitude that prevents us from forgiving.  For some reason, we like to hold on to those feelings.  It's almost like they are comforting to us – something we can own and control.  The problem is that it is sin that we are holding on to, and because of its very nature, it makes us out of control.

Why is it easier to admit when we sin in other ways, but when it comes to unforgiveness it can take years to (1) let go of the pettiness, (2) forgive the other person, and (3) ask God to forgive us.  I have a hard time understanding that one but it is one that I need to work on the most – how about you?  

Why don't you join me today and ask the Lord to help us forgive unconditionally . . . and even if you've been holding on to your bitterness and spite (unforgiveness) for most of your adult life, He will help to soften your heart, and to open your eyes, so you can see that "You" and "I" have been forgiven of ALL of our transgressions. So . . . Anything that Anyone has ever said, implied, tried, thought, told, judged, looked, hurt, slandered, stole, wrecked, ruined, or anything else you can think of, deserves our forgiveness and our love.  We have to do it . . . or else (see verse 15)!

Prayer

Lord, forgive my unforgiveness and help me to have a more understanding and loving heart towards those who hurt me.  Help me also Lord to work on my pride issues.  Show me how to love those who can get on my nerves simply by being in the same room and help me to change my attitude so that I can reflect Your love instead of my self-centered ways.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

What is Your Reason? – 2 Samuel 7: 22

22 "For this reason You are great, O Lord GOD; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 
– 2 Samuel 7: 22

What is Your Reason?
From where I started to where I am today is miles and miles apart.  I have the saving grace of Jesus to thank for that, and yet I know that sometimes I don't show Him enough gratitude for delivering me from my old life – with all the rusty chains that held me down, and the one-way ticket to hell.  I was a mess, and I know that a lot of you have the same kind of story.  Kind of a "rags to riches" tale that speaks of God's Grace and unending Forgiveness.

After I was saved, I used to envy those people who grew up in Christian homes, and I would wish that I could go back and live my tumultuous childhood all over again, but this time with a "Godly" family.  I thought it would have been an easier life.  But as I grew in the knowledge of God's Grace, I soon realized that all of that baggage; all of the hurt; the innocence that was taken from me, and all of the years that were lost due to drugs and partying, only proved the greatness of His Love for me.  He, in all of His glory and wisdom, spoke my name one day, and I found myself giving my life to Him – the greatest day of my life.

I still think it is a very special thing to be able to grow up in a good Christian home, and I'm glad for my son that I was able to offer that to him, but I no longer wish I had grown up differently.  I am who I am because of what I was when He reached down and saved me – and for that, I am eternally grateful!

What is your reason for proclaiming God's greatness?  Has it been a while since you told Him how much you appreciate all He's done for you?  Take some extra time today to reflect on the grace He's shown you, and proclaim Him and His awesome plan for your life.  Really talk to our Lord, and share from your heart how much you appreciate ALL that He has given you through your salvation.

Prayer
Lord, You are a mighty and a great God.  I have seen Your power and I have felt Your compassion as I have grown up in You these past 20 years.  I want to thank You for protecting me as I was growing up.  You held my hand and even carried me through all of the evil that the enemy tried to destroy me with.  You restored me and You have given me gifts beyond what I could even ask or think.  You are MY God and I will love You with my whole heart – all the days of my life!

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

What Are You . . . Anyway?

1  If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 

2  If I have the gift ofprophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge ; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 

3  And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
– 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

What Are You . . . Anyway?

Are you a lover? Or a "clanger?"  Are you something?  Or are you nothing?  I must admit that I am still a bit "clangy," and the Bible says that makes me "nothing" and that the work that I do, even though through my obedience God can do miracles so that others may benefit from it . . . I don't benefit at all.  Pretty harsh you say?  I don't think so.

Before I became a Christian I was not a nice person at all.  In fact, I pretty much hated everybody.  The events of my childhood and the consequences of my behavior as a youth, and on through my early 30's, left me with a warped view of the world, and an especially twisted opinion about God.  Basically I was full of hate, especially for myself, and I was headed down a steep path of destruction.

When God decided it was time, and He called me out of the "cozy" little hate-filled life that I had made for myself, He healed me of many things, and He delivered me of my 15-year drug addiction.  He left many things for me to work on though, and one of those was learning how to love . . . but first I had to learn how to forgive.  Forgive the priest for molesting me when I was 8; forgive those charged with protecting me and nurturing me in my childhood, but instead ended up hurting and scarring me both physically and emotionally; forgive my "friends" for all the things they convinced me to do that caused me to make bad decisions (hey, I had to blame somebody right?); but mostly I had to forgive myself.  I had a lot of self-hatred to deal with.  It has been a process, but now, with forgiveness from my past taken care of, He is continually working with me on learning how to love . . . everyone.

Everyone?  Are you kidding?  How can you possibly love everyone?  To tell you the truth, I don't have the answer to that one, but the Bible tells us that we are to love as Christ Loves us – and that means everyone.  In my own capacity it is impossible.  In my own limited understanding of "humanity" and what makes us tick, it cannot be done.  But God!  God can show us how, if we let Him.  He can bring us to a point of seeing beyond the obvious; seeing past the exterior; seeing His children (everyone), as equal to ourselves and equal in His eye.  He can show us how to love because He IS love.

So how about it?  Is there someone out there who just rubs you the wrong way?  Do you start to get angry at the mere mention of their name?  Clang! Clang! Clang!  Every time you call on God, He has to listen past all the clanging to hear what you are trying to say to Him.  I struggle with this Clang-itis every day, and I'll bet that most of you do too.  It's just our humanity, and our sinful, and selfish nature that we need to learn how to control.  We need to learn how to let God turn even the slightest bit of dislike into a pure and holy love – for everyone – even those who in our eyes, don't deserve it.  They are the ones who need to experience God's love the most . . . through you and through me.  Then, we will be Clang-Free, and that, will truly be something.

Prayer
Father forgive my prideful and selfish ways.  Forgive me for the times when I see Your children as enemies, and for thinking evil thoughts about them.  I need You to help me see them as You do.  I need You to show me how to love because I must admit that I am having a difficult time trying to do it on my own. I don't want to keep hurting You and sinning against You Lord, and I pray that I can start showing Your love to everyone, and that by doing so, it might just turn them towards You.  Thank You Lord, for loving me despite my clangy nature.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard